Defense chief’s resignation pushes Israel toward election
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday abruptly resigned to protest a new cease-fire with Hamas militants in Gaza, throwing the government into turmoil and pushing the country toward an early election.
Avigdor Lieberman’s decision was ostensibly a show of anger over Tuesday’s informal truce with Israel’s Hamas enemies. But in many ways, it was the opening round of a new political campaign.
His defection leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the narrowest of parliamentary majorities — only 61 of 120 seats in his coalition.
In theory, Netanyahu can continue to govern until parliamentary elections scheduled for a year from now. But with another coalition rival, Naftali Bennett, threatening to leave the coalition if he doesn’t get the defense portfolio, the days of Netanyahu’s government appear numbered.
After two days of heavy fighting, Netanyahu’s decision to accept the Egyptian-brokered truce was more than a case of cooler heads prevailing.
The longtime Israeli leader knows well that the military option has its limits. Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza and fought three wars against Hamas since the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. This has inflicted heavy damage on Gaza, but Hamas remains firmly in power.
Ousting the group would require a military operation that could take months and cost the lives of thousands of Palestinian civilians and many Israeli soldiers. Reluctant to pay such a price, Netanyahu instead seems content to keep a weakened Hamas in check.
With the Palestinians weak and divided, there is little pressure for Netanyahu to make concessions, allowing him to expand West Bank settlements and cement Israeli control over the territory.